Defence chief Cosgrove ready to step down

Page Tools

Hanging up his hat ... General Peter Cosgrove plans to retire in July.Photo: Penny Bradfield

The Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, has
reaffirmed his intention to retire when his term runs out in July,
but the decision has renewed speculation about his likely
successor.

A spokesman for the Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill, said
yesterday that he did not believe a replacement for General
Cosgrove, whose three-year term in the job expires on July 3, had
been chosen yet.

But defence sources said that three possible replacements the
Federal Government is likely to be considering include the Vice
Chief of the Defence Force, Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders, the Chief
of Army Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy and the Chief of Air Force
Air Marshal Angus Houston.

The speculation was sparked after General Cosgrove said in a
magazine article: "I said from before I started ... three years is
going to be right. I haven't changed my mind."

The Defence Department issued a statement last night saying that
"contrary to media reporting, General Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the
Defence Force, has not resigned.

"In a recent interview with The Bulletin magazine,
General Cosgrove confirmed his term as Chief of the Defence Force
will cease at midnight on the 3rd of July 2005. At that time,
General Cosgrove will retire from the Australian Defence Force. He
will retire after more than 40 years of dedicated service to the
nation."

General Cosgrove said in a television interview last year he
would not consider a career in politics after leaving the
Australian Defence Force in mid-2005.

"No politics. I wouldn't think of it," General Cosgrove
said.

The general attracted controversy last year after he publicly
distanced himself from the Australian Federal Police Commissioner,
Mick Keelty, over his comments linking the Madrid terrorist
bombings to the war in Iraq.

It attracted criticism at the time, with claims he was espousing
the Howard Government's line.

The Opposition spokesman on defence and homeland security,
Robert McClelland, said General Cosgrove had served Australia with
distinction and embodied "the heart of the Anzac spirit".